For those who are unfamiliar with transcoding – it allows a user to convert a high resolution video file into smaller versions that are optimized for playback on websites, mobile devices, applications, and other video platforms. Normally, a user would have to purchase and configure software in order to successfully convert video files, which can end up being a complex process of trial and error. The Amazon Elastic Transcoder eliminates all the complexities.

The Elastic Transcoder manages all the aspects of the transcoding process transparently and automatically. It removes the need to administer software, scale hardware, tune performance, or otherwise manage the transcoding infrastructure. The Amazon Elastic Transcoder provides a number of presets for popular output formats so you don’t need to guess which settings work best for certain devices. Customers can process multiple files in parallel and organize all of their work efficiently and seamlessly.

“Our customers told us that it was difficult and expensive to transcode video due to the explosion in the number of devices they need to support,” said Charlie Bell, Vice President of Utility Computing Services. “They had to be both experts in the intricacies of video support on different devices and manage the software required to run the transcoding jobs. None of this work had anything to do with their goal: getting a high quality video that would look great on the devices they wanted. We built Amazon Elastic Transcoder to give our customers an easy, cost effective way to solve these problems.'”

Like other Amazon Web Services, there are no contracts or monthly commitments for using Amazon Elastic Transcoder – you simply pay based on the minutes you need to transcode, and resolution of the content transcoded. Amazon is providing a free tier of service, where customers can transcode 20 minutes each month free of charge. Find more about the Elastic Transcoder on Amazon.com.